If you guys (professional techs) were going to spend $10,000 (+/-) on diagnostic equipment/engine analyzer, what would it/they be?

I'm no tech, much less professional tech. I belive the first would be an engine oscilloscope of some sort. why do you ask? I cant imagine someone forking up that kinda dough for a DIY job!

The need for an ignition scope on modern cars is somewhere between rare and non existent.

If I were to go in the biz and had $10K for diagnostic equipment. I would have a good scanner, which would probably be a laptop and software, and put the rest of the money in documentation, a good timing light, good fuel pressure guage, good compression guage, and various other good equipment.

Good luck,

Unfortunately $10k is a drop in the bucket. I pay tangible taxes on nearly $400k worth of equiptment. I have over $50k in scanners alone.

But given your question I would start with a good DSO. The Fluke 98 (see my driveability article in DIY) can be had used for around a grand (they are on ebay all the time). It doesn't do ignition as well as a dedicated tool but I paid $20k for my engine analyszer - Bosch Mot250 and you will need some money out of that 10k for a scanner. A scanner alone will not fix cars, it will only guide you if forming the proper testing for your DSO.

If you really want to do it right I would suggest the Vetronix MTS5100 for your scope. It will take a good chunk of that 10k at around 7k and its too new to find used most likely. That doesn't quite leave enough for a Baum CS2000 although they may be found used and a new module added. The current MB module lists for $1.5k (the base tool goes for about $2.3k). If you would like to view these tools see:

http://www.vetronix.com/main.html

http://www.baumtools.com/

If it was for the later Mercedes, say 1990 and later, I would get the Baum CS 2000...It is the BEST HHT for Mercedes in the aftermarket. Cost? about 3-4k,

If it was for the earlier cars, I would get a good SUN 400 or something equiv. Scope. They are about 10k.